The Colombo-Kandy road (A1) was built by Captain W. F. Dawson of the Royal Engineers, during the tenure of Governor Edward Barnes. Dawson died in Colombo on 28th March, 1829 and the Dawson Tower was erected in 1832 at the Kadugannawa Pass to commemorate him. There are legends about the bend through the Rock and Dawson tower.


“If the British want to conquer the Hill Country they will have to cut through the rock,” King Rajasinghe had remarked. The British did just that to spite the king, although the road could have been built above the rock easily, like it is at present. Both the road through the Rock and Dawson Tower are great attractions to foreign and local tourists alike.
 

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